Gold-saving apparatus.



- PATBN ED JAN.3, 1905. E. SLKELLBY. A GOLD SAVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. KELLEY, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIS W. COOPER, OF KENOSHA. VVISOONSIN.

GOLD-SAVING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,365, dated. January 3, 1905.

Original application filed May 22, 1902, Serial No. 108,536. Divided and this application filed June 13, 1904:. Serial No. 212,357.

To mll whoml it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. KELLEY, a

itizen of the United States, residing at St. 5

oseph, in the county of Berrien and State of ichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of this invention is to proluce an improved apparatus for separating gold from sand and earth or pulp.

A further object of the invention is the production of a means for enlivening the quicksilver used in the apparatus and preventing its flouring.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section through this goldsaving apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the funnel. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means for passing the electric wires through the walls of the.containing-case.

In the embodiment herein shown of this invention I providea containing case or bucket 1, cut away at one side'to provide an outlet 2, and in this bucket is supported in any suitable mannera funnel 3, rectangular at its upper end and having a rectangular lower spout t rear-turned in the bucket. The spout 4 is provided with a long narrow discharge-opening 5. Vithin the bucket 1 is placed a quantity of quicksilver 6 sufiicient to rise above the discharge-opening 5 of the spout 4. The quicksilver thus forms a seal through which the pulp is forced before it overflows from the bucket through the outlet 2.

An inclined amalgamated plate 7 extends between the lower end of the funnel 3 and the edge of the outlet 2, the upper edge of said plate being rounded. to conform to the wall of the bucket 1. The lower end of the plate 7 is supported upon two feet 8, resting upon the bottom of the bucket.

A flume 9 conveys the water and sand to and discharges it into the open upper end of the funnel 3, and a flurne or trough 10, attached in any suitable manner to the bucket 1 or formed separate therefrom, is adapted to carry l away the material issuing from the bucket i through the outlet 2.

In order to enliven the mercury in the bucket 1, I may connect the mercury and the pulp in said bucket with the respective poles of a battery or with a dynamo, the action of the electric current keeping said quicksilver fluid and )reventing it from flouring and wasting away with the flowing water.

11 and 12 refer to wires connecting the quicksilver and the pulp, respectively, in the bucket 1 with a source 13 of electrical energy.

The bucket may be formed of any suitable material, except that when its contents is to be connected with a source of electric energy the bucket should be made of a substance nonconducting of electricity.

1n the operation of my improved gold-saving apparatus gold-bearing sand and water from a concentrator or from any other source is brought to the apparatus by means of the flume 9 and discharged into the upper end of the funnel 3. The rear-turned lower end A of said funnel causes the sand and water to be discharged rearward in the bucket and underneath the mercury seal, through which seal said sand and water boils upward, passing over the amalgamated plate 7 and flowing from the bucket through the outlet 2. At suitable intervals the amalgamated plate 7 is removed from the apparatus and burned in order to secure the gold which has adhered to the mercury upon said plate.

It is apparent that various changes may be made in the embodiment herein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, wherefore I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the particular construction herein illustrated and described.

I claim as my invention 1. In a gold-saving apparatus, in combination, a bucket having an outlet-opening in its side above its lower end, said bucket being adapted to contain a quantity of mercury; a funnel in said bucket having an elongated narrow discharge-opening facing away from said outlet-opening and arranged to be sub- Correction in Letters Patent No. 779,365.

merged in the mercury in said bucket; and an inclined amalgamated plate extending from said funnel to said outlet-opening, the lower edge of said plate being raised above the bottom of said bucket.

2. In a gold-saving apparatus, in combination, a bucket having an outlet in its side, said bucket being adapted to contain a quantity of mercury; and a vertical funnel supported at substantially the center of said bucket, said funnel having a curved narrow elongated discharge-opening facing away from said outletand arranged to be submerged in the mercury in said bucket; and an inclined amalgamated plate extending from said funnel to said outlet.

3. In a gold-saving apparatus, in combination, a cylindrical bucket having an outletopening in its side and adapted to contain a quantity of mercury; a funnel having a contracted discharge-opening facing away from said outlet and arranged to be submerged in the mercury in said bucket, said dischargeopening being located at substantially the center of the lower end of said bucket; and an inclined amalgamated plate'extending from the lower end of said funnel to the edge of the outlet-opening in said bucket, the upper edge of said plate being curved to conform to the curved wall of said bucket, and the lower edge of said plate being raised above the bottom of said bucket.

EDWARD S. KELLEY. Witnesses M. E. (JonBYN, FLORENCE OHARA,

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 779,365, granted January 3,. 1905,

upon the application of Edward S. Kelley, of St. Joseph, Michigan, for an improvement in Gold-Saving Apparatus, was erroneously issued to said Kelley and \Villis W. Cooper, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to said Kelley and Henry S. Cooper, executor of said Willis IV. Cooper, deceased, as shown by the records of this ofiice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of January, A. 1)., 1905.

[sEAL.]

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 779,365.

merged in the mercury in said bucket; and an inclined amalgamated plate extending from said funnel to said outlet-opening, the lower edge of said plate being raised above the bottom of said bucket.

2. In a gold-saving apparatus, in combination, a bucket having an outlet in its side, said bucket being adapted to contain a quantity of mercury; and a vertical funnel supported at substantially the center of said bucket, said funnel having a curved narrow elongated discharge-opening facing away from said outletand arranged to be submerged in the mercury in said bucket; and an inclined amalgamated plate extending from said funnel to said outlet.

3. In a gold-saving apparatus, in combination, a cylindrical bucket having an outletopening in its side and adapted to contain a quantity of mercury; a funnel having a contracted discharge-opening facing away from said outlet and arranged to be submerged in the mercury in said bucket, said dischargeopening being located at substantially the center of the lower end of said bucket; and an inclined amalgamated plate'extending from the lower end of said funnel to the edge of the outlet-opening in said bucket, the upper edge of said plate being curved to conform to the curved wall of said bucket, and the lower edge of said plate being raised above the bottom of said bucket.

EDWARD S. KELLEY. Witnesses M. E. (JonBYN, FLORENCE OHARA,

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 779,365, granted January 3,. 1905,

upon the application of Edward S. Kelley, of St. Joseph, Michigan, for an improvement in Gold-Saving Apparatus, was erroneously issued to said Kelley and \Villis W. Cooper, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to said Kelley and Henry S. Cooper, executor of said Willis IV. Cooper, deceased, as shown by the records of this ofiice; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of January, A. 1)., 1905.

[sEAL.]

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 779,365.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 779,365, granted January 3, W05, upon the application of Edward S. Kelley, of St. Joseph, Michigan, for an improvement in Gold-Saving Apparatus, was erroneously issued to said Kelley and Willis W. Cooper, Whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to said Kelley (17'!!! this ofhce; and that the said Letters Patent should be mild with this corn-mien therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiuw.

Signed and sealed this 34th day of January A. 1)., 1905 [SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner 01' Pafcnb.

Henry 8. Cooper, executor of said Willis W. Cooper, deceased, as shown by the records of 

